Mila the elephant is 41-years-old and hadn’t seen a fellow pachyderm in 37 years. It was a dream of Mila’s New Zealand zookeeper, Helen Schofield, that the elephant would get the chance to meet one of her own. And two years after Schofield’s death — she was accidentally crushed by the elephant — her wish came true. Colleagues and supporters raised $1.5 million in Schofield’s honor to send Mila to the San Diego Zoo and integrate with a pack.
The above video shows Mila’s first interaction with another elephant, the 50-year-old matriarch of the herd.
“Mary was curious of the newbie while Mila was surprised to find something as big as her on the other side of the wall!” zookeeper Robbie Clark told TVNZ.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- Coco Gauff Is Playing for Herself Now
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com